Counter



Mary 5, 1936. F. E. NORTHROP COUNTER Filed April 9, 1951 FQAflK BY- 11 ATTOR EY.

v Patented may 5, 1936 .Aan

man

Veeder-Root Incorporated, a

Connecticut corporation of Application April 9, 1931,;Serial No. 528,818

290mm. (01. 235-132) a My invention relates to counters.

It has among its objects to provide an improved counter, and more particularly an improved predetermined counter having improved controlling 4 5 mechanism operatively associated therewith. A. further object of my invention is to provide such a counter having improved switch mechanism and controlling mechanism therefor operative automatically upon completion of a-predetermined number of operations and manually cocked in an improved manner as the resetting mechanism of the counter is operated. A further object of my invention is to provide such an improved controlling mechanism operative to maintain the 1:, switch mechanism in its adjusted position after the same has been automatically operated in such manner as to provide a continuing indication, as, for example, by a light or bell tending to call attention to the need for resetting the counter. These and other objects and advantages of my improved construction will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown for purposes of illustration one embodiment which 13 my invention may assume in practice.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a plan view of a counter equipped with my improvement, its parts being illustrated in starting position, with the cover removed and illustration Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on line 2-2 of Figure 1 when the parts are in zero position;

35 Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing the parts in zero position and one of the usual driving pawl mechanisms;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the contact mechanism, the wing nut being removed to facilitate illustration, and the parts being shown in starting position; r

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the parts in full lines in their first operative position during resetting, and in dotted lines in their second operative position during resetting; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of Figure 1 showing one of the reset pawl mechanisms.

In this illustrative construction I have shown a counter of the predetermined type carried in a suitable casing I, and comprising a series of counter units A, B, C and D, each having an adjustable predetermined number wheel 2 and an adjacent counter wheel 3 and adapted to be successively operated by usual mechanism 4, herein of the ratchet, type, and also adapted to be reset the switch casing shown in section to facilitate by a wing nut 5, while-also having improved controlling mechanism hereinafter described and disposed in a supplementary casing 6 carried at one end of the casing I.

'Ihe predetermined counter mechanism, 'including its actuating and resetting mechanism, is

not per se a part of the present invention being the invention of one Harvey L. Spaunburg, which is described and claimed in a co-pending application, Serial No. 528,819, filed April 9, 1931 and assigned to the assignee of this application, so that a detailed description of the same seems unnecessary. It will, however, be understood that the first unit A is operated in any suitable manner, as, for example, herein, by the lever of the ratchet mechanism 4, and that it is connected through usual transfer mechanism including a mutilated transfer pinion 'l rotatably mounted on shaft 1a to the unit B, while the units B, C and D are similarly connected to one another in a well known manner. It will be evident that the teeth on the mutilated portion of transfer pinions i cooperate with the two-toothed carrying gear 'lb (Figures 1 and 6) of the lower order wheel while adjacent teeth of this mutilated portion of the pinion engage the periphery of the locking disc 10, and that the unmutilated portion of pinions 1 are constantly in mesh with the gear id of the counter unit of the next higher order, all in a well known manner in the art. It will also be evident from Figure 1 that since the teeth on the unmutilated portion of each pinion 1 project inwardly beyond the periphery of the locking disc lc on one side and relatively axially fixed counter wheel 3 on the other side, the transfer pinions I cannot be axially displaced on shaft la. It will also be understood that the members 2 are adjustable about their axis relative to the members 3. into any desired position to set the mechanism for any predetermined number of operations and that the several members 2 and 3 also have operative connections (not shown), whereby, after each adjustment, the members 2 and 3 may move together during counting. As shown, the members 2 are also, as usual, provided with suitable notches 8 adapted to come into alignment in the zero position of the members 2 and be engaged by rollers 9 on a swinging frame NJ. The latter in turn is connected through usual gearing II and I2 with a controlling shaft 13 in such manner that, when the members 2 are at zero and the members 3 indicate the predetermined number desired, the latter shaftis moved about its axis. It will also be understood that after-the predetermined number of counting op erations has occurred and the shaft 3 has thus operated, the mechanism may be reset 'by the wing nut 5 which in turn rotates the counter carrying shaft it, provided with the usual keyway l5 and adapted to co-operate with the usual pawls l6 (Fig. 6) in such manner as successively to pick up the counter units and as usual return the same to their initial position illustrated in Figure 1, wherein the predetermined number will appear upon the number wheels 2 and the number wheels 3 will be at zero. It will be understood that with the well known counter units and transfer mechanism herein shown, the independent rotation of the several counter units during resetting is permitted by reason of the customary pawl and ratchet mechanism (Figure 3) including a pair of spring pressed pawls |5a carried by the gears ld which cooperate with the internal ratchets |5b carried by counter wheels 3, permitting free rotation of each counter wheel 3 in a resetting direction, irrespective of the interconnecting transfer pinions.

'In my improved construction I have provided improved controlling mechanism adapted to cooperate with such a counter in order to enable improved results to be obtained. More particularly, it will be noted that, as shown in Figure 4, I provide the shaft I3 with an operating lever |1 projecting into the switch casing 6, while I also provide acam |8 on the end of the shaft H projecting into that casing, the wing nut 5, as shown in Figure 1, being spaced from this cam and carried on the extreme end of the shaft ll. Herein also it will be noted that the operating member I1, which is connectible by any suitable adjusting means, as a set screw I9, to the shaft I3, is also provided with two pins 20 between its ends and also connected at its outer endby a coiled spring 2| to a suitable connection 22 inthe top of the casing 6. Moreover, it willbe noted that a pivotal member 23 extends between the pins 20 and upward to the top of the casing adjacent the connection 22, where it is pivotally connected at 24 to a transversely disposed latching member 25. upper endof a spring member 2'|,'the lower end of which is attached as by a screw 28 at the bottom of the casing. Moreover, it will be noted that the member 21 carries a laterally projecting pin or operating member 29 which operates any suitable type of switch mechanism S, herein of the normally open type and operable by the pin 29 through an intermediate pin 29 reciprocably mounted in the switch casing. As shown, the

free end of the member. 25 also has a hook or latch 30 formed thereon adapted to hook over acorresponding upstanding projection 3| carried near the top of the opposite wall of the casing 6. Herein, it will also be noted that a coiled spring 32 is connected to the-member 25 substantially midway between its pivots 24 and 26, and also has its opposite end attached to the bottom of the casing 6 as at 33.

In the operation of the construction, it will be understood that the parts will assume the posi- 'tions shown in Figures 1 and 4 when in starting position, i. e. when the predetermined number of counter mechanism has performed the desirednumber of operations, it will be evident that as the rollers 9 drop into the notches I, the shaft II will The latter in turnispivoted at 26 on the be operated through its connections including the spring 2| and gearing l2, which are constantly tending to operate the same but are prevented by the members 2 until the notches 8 come into alignment. More particularly, the spring 2| pulls up the free end of the operating member l1 and thereby causes the pins 2|] to clutch the member 23 and moves the latter upwardly and, through the member 23 pivoted at 24 on the member 25, raises the latch 30 on the latter and disengages it from the member 3| in such manner as to release the spring 21 and accordingly enable the same to push in the contact actuating member 29 and thereby close the circuit, as necessary, as, for example, to light a light, ring a hell, or shut down the machine, as may be desired. Here, it will also be noted that the parts will remain in this position until the mechanism is reset, irrespective of whether the rollers 9 remain in the notches 8. Thus there is given a continuing indication that the predetermined count has out of notches 8. When, however, the operator operates the wing nut 5 to reset the mechanism, this will bring the actuating portion on the cam l8 into engagement with the under side of the member in such manner as to raise the same and cause its latch to clear the projection 3|, while further rotation of the cam |8 will force the member 23 to the left and swing the latch 30 down over the projection 3| while tensioning the spring 21. Thus, the switch mechanism will be cocked by the resetting operation of the shaft M in such manner thatthe circuit connections for the light or signal will be automatically made ready for automatic closing as soon as the desired predetermined number of operations has again been performed.

Attention is also directed to the limited range of movement of the reset member permitted without operation of the contact mechanism by the engagement of the actuating portion of cm l8 with its associated mechanism. Thus, it will be noted, that if the reset .member is moved through more than this limited range of movement, the contacts are closed in such manner as to cause the illumination of the light, the ringing of the bell, or the shutting down of the machine, depending upon the particular means in circuit with the contacts. This provides marked further complications for an operator seeking to advance the count of the counter fradulently by manipulation of the resetting mechanism, and thus materially restricts his freedom of manipulation of the latter. More particularly these restrictions arise not only from his fear of inadvertently closing the contact and thus attracting the attention of a supervisor to him, but also from the limitation on his freedom to move the reset shaft, which tends to make him fear that he will oversteal. As a result, he will be able to steal only small amounts in certain limited ranges, something which many operators will either not discover, or be afraid to use for fear of operating the light or other signal.

As a result .of my improved construction, it will be noted that it is also made possible to apply my improved control mechanism to a counter of the type illustrated with a minimum of change in the latter. More particularly, it will be noted that the whole casing 6 is connectible as a unit to one end of the casing by suitable corner screws, suitable apertures for which are shown as at in Figures 4 and 5 while the cam l3 and operating member I! are readily connectible to the ends of the shafts I4 and I3 protruding through the adjacent end of the casing I. All the rest of the mechanism, it will be noted, is carried by the casing 6, including a switch casing 36 housing the switch mechanism S. Thus, where it is desired to apply my improvement to an existing counter, this may be very readily done with a minimum of expense.

While I have in this application specifically described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that the same is shown for purposes of illustration, and that the invention may be modifiedand embodied in various other forms and adapted-to other forms of counters without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a counter including a plurality of rotatable number wheels having transfer mechanism therebetween and having mechanism operative after a predetermined number of counting operations of said number wheels, and manually actuated counter resetting mechanism for resetting said number wheels, of switch mechanism including: co-operating contacts and actuating means for automatically operating said contacts upon operation of said second mentioned mechanism and automatically reversely operating the same upon a resetting operation of said resetting mechanism.

2. The combination with a counter including a plurality of rotatable number wheels having transfer mechanism therebetween and having mechanism operative after a predetermined number of counting operations of said number wheels, and manually actuated counter resetting mechanism for resetting said number wheels, of switch mechanism including cooperating contacts and a contact controlling member biased to control said contacts upon operation of said second mentioned mechanism and to automatically reversely operate the same upon a resetting operation of said resetting mechanism. i

3. The combination with a counter including a plurality of rotatable number wheels having transfer mechanism therebetween and having mechanism operative after a predetermined number of counting operations of said number wheels, and counter resetting mechanism for resetting said number wheels, of controlling mechanism having a resiliently connected controlling member released by said second mentioned mechanism and cooked by said resetting mechanism.

4. The combination with a counter including a plurality of rotatable number wheels, each having driving and driven gears and a resetting member, and having transfer mechanism connecting the proximate gears of adjacent wheels and controlling mechanism operative after a pre determined number of counting operations of said number wheels, and counter resetting mechanism having a resetting member disposed coaxially of said counter wheels for engaging the resetting members of said wheels and returning all of the latter to zero position, of switch mechanism'ineluding cooperating contacts, and actuating means for operating said contacts upon actuation of said controlling mechanism and also reversely operating the same upon actuation of said resetting member of said resetting mechanism.

5. The combination with a counter including a plurality of rotatable number wheels, each having driving and driven gears and a resetting member, and having transfer mechanism connecting the proximate gears of "adjacent wheels and controlling mechanism operative after a predetermined number of counting operations of said number wheels, and counter resetting mechanism having a resetting member disposed coaxially of said counter wheels for engaging the resetting members of said wheels and returning all of the latter to zero position, of which mechanism including cooperating contacts, and switch actuating mechanism therefor including contact controlling means biased to actuate one of said contacts upon actuation of said controlling mechanism and also reversely operated to reversely actuate said contact upon actuation of said resetting member of said. resetting mechanism.

6. Ina counter having a plurality of rotatable number wheels, each including driving and driven gears and a resetting member, and having transfer pinions connecting the proximate gears of adjacent number Wheels, controlling mechanism operative after a predetermined count, and counter resetting mechanism operative while said transfer pinions remain in operative position to reset said number wheels to zero, switch mechanism including cooperating contacts, and actuating means for operating said contacts controlled by both said controlling mechanism and said resetting mechanism and reversely operable thereby to effect reverse operations of said contacts.

'7. In a counter having operatively connected counter units including a plurality of coaxial number wheels having transfer mechanism therebetween, controlling mechanism operative after a predetermined count on one or more of said number wheels, and counter resetting mechanism, switch mechanism, and switch operating mechanism controlled by both said controlling mechanism and said resetting mechanism and comprising a movable actuating member and latch mechanism controlling the same and operable to release said switch operating mechanism following any predetermined count indicated on one or more of said number wheels.

8. In a counter having a plurality of rotatable number wheels, each including a resetting member and transfer elements, and having transfer mechanism connecting the transfer elements of adjacent units, controlling mechanism operative after a predetermined count, and rotatable counter resetting mechanism rotatable through a complete revolution for engaging the resetting members of said number wheels to reset said number wheels to zero, switch mechanism including cooperating contacts, and actuating mechanism for operating said contacts comprising a resilient switch actuating member and means for tensioning and releasing said member controlled respectivelyv by saidresetting mechanism and controlling mechanism.

9. In a counter, counter mechanism including a plurality of operatively connected counter wheels operative to count a series of operations indicated on one or more of said wheels, mechanism operative after a predetermined number of operations, a controlling member, latch mechanism controlling the latter, and mechanism operative upon operation of said second mentioned mechanism and controlling said latch mechanism.

10. In a ,bounter, counter mechanism including a plurality of operatively connected counter wheels having resetting mechani'sm-,- mechanism operative after-a predetermined number of counting operations indicated on one or more of said wheels, a controlling member, latch mechanism controlling the latter, and mechanism controlling said latch mechanism operative upon operation of said second mentioned mechanism and also upon operation of said resetting mechanism.

11. In a counter having a casing, operatively connected coaxial counter units including rotatv connected coaxial counting mechanisms includingv rotatable number wheels having transfer mechanism therebetween, predetermining mechanism operative when a predetermined number has been counted by said wheels, resetting mechanism for said counting mechanisms manually operable to pick up and rotate said number wheels in the counting direction to reset the same to zero, and switch mechanism on said casing controlled by said predetermining mechanism including cooperating contacts and a member biased to actuate one of said contacts and reversely operated by a resetting operation of said resetting mechanism, and means including a latch controlled .by said second mentioned mechanism and controlling said member.

13. In a counter having a casing, coaxial counter units including rotatable number wheels having transfer mechanism therebetween each having a notch and operative connections for bringing said notches into alignment whena predetermined number ha: been counted, mechanism operative when said notches are in alignment, resetting mechanism for said'units having a rotatable resetting member coaxial with said number wheels and manually operable to pick up and rotate said number wheels in the counting direction to reset the same to zero, and switch mechanism on said counter casing operative by said second mentioned mechanism and oppositely operable upon a resetting operation of said resetting mechanism.

14. In a counter having a plurality of rotatable number wheels, each including a resett-ing member and transfer elements, and havingtransfer mechanism connecting the transfer elements of adjacent units, controlling mechanism operative after a predetermined number of operations of said number wheels, rotatable counter resetting mechanism rotatable through a complete revolution for engaging the resetting members of said number wheels to reset the latter to zero, a normally operative controlling member, latch mechanism holding said member in inoperative position, mechanism actuated by said first mentioned controlling mechanism for releasing said latch mechanism, and mechanism rotatable with said resetting mechanism for resetting said latch mechanism and controlling member upon operation of said resetting mechanism.

15. In combination, a counter having a plurality of rotatable number wheels, an operating member movable after a predetermined number of counting operations of said number wheels, latch mechanism including a stationary and a movable latch member, means for moving the latter upon operation of said operating member,

an actuating member tensioned when said movable latch member is in latching position and released ;upon release of said movable latch memher, and controlling mechanism controlled by movement of said actuating member.

16. In combination, a counter having a plurality of rotatable number wheels, an operating member movable after a predetermined number of counting operations of said number wheels, latch mechanism including a stationary and a movable latch member, means for moving the latter upon operation of said operating member, an actuatingmember tensioned when said movable latch member is in latching. position and released upon release of said movable latch member, controlling mechanism controlled by movement of said actuating member, and resetting mechanism for rotating said number wheels to zero position including means for re-latching said movable latch member and retensioning said actu ating member including a cam rotatable with said number wheels during resetting of the latter.

17. The combination with a counter having a plurality of rotatable number wheels and transfer mechanism therebetween and including a casing and having mechanism adjustable to count any one of a series of selected numbers of counting operations of said number wheels and having cooperating mechanism operative when the selected number of operations thereof has been counted and also manually actuated resetting mechanism for thereafter resetting said counter including means for rotating said number wheels in the counting direction to zero, of switch mechanism on said counter casing having means including cooperating contact members and a member biased to operate one of the latter and automatically operative by said cooperating mechanism and automatically reversely operated upon man ual operation of said resetting mechanism to reset the counter.

18. The combination with a counter having mechanism adjustable to count any one of a series of selected numbers of operations and having cooperating mechanism operative when the selected number of operations has been counted and also resetting mechanism for resetting said counter, of controlling mechanism automatically operative by said co-operating mechanism and automatically reset upon operation of said resetting mechanism having latch mechanism controlled by said co-operating mechanism and a cam movable upon operation of said resetting mechanism and likewise controlling said latch mechanism.

19. The combination with a counter having mechanism adjustable to count any one of a series of selected numbers of operations and having cooperating mechanism operative when the selected number of operations has been counted and also resetting mechanism for resetting said counter, of controlling mechanism automatically operative by said co-operating mechanism and automatically reset upon operation of said resetting mechanism and having latch mechanism controlled by said co-operating mechanism, a cam movable upon operation of said resetting mechanism and reversely operating said latch mechanism, and contact mechanism operative reversely upon reverse operations of said latch mechanism.

20. In combination with a counter having a resetting shaft and a controlling shaft operative after a predetermined number of operations of the counter, a cam member carried on said resetting shaft, a resiliently connected operating member carried on said controlling shaft, guide means on said operating member, a resiliently mounted controlling member, a movable resiliently connected latch member pivoted thereto, a stationary latch member, and a member pivoted on said movable latch member and movable relative to said guide means, both said movable latch member and said last mentioned latch member being engageable by said cam.

21. In combination with a counter'having a resetting shaft and a controlling shaft operative after a predetermined number of operations of the counter, a cam member carried on said resetting shaft, a resiliently connected operating member carried on said controlling shaft, guide means on said operating member, a resiliently mounted controlling member, a movable resiliently connected latch member pivoted thereto and engageable by said cam, a stationary latch member, a member engageable by said cam and pivoted on said movable latch member and-movable between said guide means, a reciprocable member reciprocable by said resiliently mounted controlling member when said latch is released, and a contact mechanism controlled by said reciprocable member.

-22. Incombination with a counter having a resetting shaft and a controlling shaft operative after a predetermined number of operations of the counter, a cam member carried on said resetting shaft, a resiliently connected operating member carried on said controlling shaft, pins on said operating member, a resiliently mounted controlling member, a movable resiliently connected latch member-pivoted thereto and actuated by said cam, a stationary latch member, a member actuated by said cam pivoted on said movable latch member and movable between said pins, said resiliently mounted member being disposed at one side of said shafts, and said pin engaging member being disposed on the opposite side thereof and between said resetting shaft and said stationary latch member, and the resilient connections for said operating member and movable latch member also being disposed on opposite sides of said shafts.

23. In combination with a counter having a casing and controlling and resettingshafts projecting through one end of the latter, a supplementary casing on that end of the counter casing and carrying a switch mechanism, an operating member carried on said controlling shaft, a cam carried on said resetting shaft and with said operating member being disposed in said supplementary casing, an actuating member in said suplementary casing for actuating said switch mechanism, and means in said supplementary casing for eifecting operation of said actuating member in one direction upon operation of said operating member and moving said actuating member in the opposite direction to reset the same upon movement of said cam.

24. In combination, a predetermined counter having a plurality of axially disposed counter units, each including a counting number wheel and a predetermining number wheel, and also having a member operative after a predetermined number of counting operations of said number wheels and a rotatable resetting member coaxial with said number wheels operative to advance said number wheels in unison therewith and in the direction of counting to reset the counter, co-operating contacts, means for operating said contacts to make and break contact therebetween, and

controlling means for said last mentioned means operative upon operation of said member which is operative after a predetermined number of operations, and also oppositely operative upon said operation of coaxial member to efiect resetting.

25. The combination with a counter having a plurality of rotatable axially aligned like number wheels having notches movable into alignment after a predetermined number of counting operations of said number wheels and mechanism having means receivable in the aligned notches and operating said mechanismjof switch mechanism, and switch controlling mechanism for movin said switch mechanism into a predetermined position upon operation of said first mentioned mechanism and having means for enabling said switch to remain in said position irrespective of whether said notch engaging means move out of said notches.

26. The combination with a counter having a plurality of rotatable axially aligned like number wheels having notches movable into alignment after a predetermined number of counting operations of said number wheels and mechanism having means receivable in the aligned notches and operating said mechanism, of switch mechanism movable into a predetermined position upon operation of said last mentioned mechanism and remaining in said position irrespective of whether said means move out of said notches, resetting mechanism for said counter, and means for resetting said switch mechanism operative only upon operation of said counter resetting mechanism.

27. The combination with a counter having a plurality of rotatable axially aligned number wheels having notches movable into alignment after a predetermined number of counting operations of said number wheels and mechanism having means receivable in the aligned notches and operating said mechanism, of switch mechanism, mechanism for moving the same with a snap action into a predetermined position upon operation of said last mentioned mechanism also having means for maintaining said switch mechanism in said position irrespective of whether said means move out of said notches, resetting mechanism for said counter including a member rotatable through a complete revolution to advance said number wheels in the direction of counting to zero position, and means for resetting said switch mechanism with a snap action operative upon operation of said counter resetting mechanism.

28. The combination with a counter having operatively connected coaxial counter units and resetting mechanism having a resetting member disposed coaxially of said units and rotatable to pick up and reset the same, of a cam rotatable by said resetting member, and switch mechanism on the counter operable by said cam as said resetting mechanism is rotated to reset the counter.

29. The combination with a counter having operatively connected coaxial counter units including rotatable number wheels and resetting mechanismfor resetting said number wheels having a resetting member disposed coaxially of said units and rotatable in the direction of rotation of said number wheels during counting to pick up and reset the same, of a cam rotatable by said resetting membenswitch mechanism on the counter operable by said cam as said resetting mechanism is rotated to reset the counter, said' cam being dis- CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,040,027. May 5, 1936.

FRANK E. NORTHROP.

It is hereby certified that Certificate of Correction issued August 11, 1936, was incomplete in that it should have included the following correction: Page 5, second column, line 4, claim 24, strike out the word "said"; and that the said Certificate should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of September, A. D. 1936.

Henry Van ,Arsdale a Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,040,027. May 5,1956.

FRANK E. NORTHROP.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, second a column, line 10, claim 5, for "which" read switch; page 5, second column,

line 5, claim 24, before "coaxial" insert the word said; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of August, A. D. 1936.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) J A ting Commissioner of Patents,

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,040,027. May 5, 1936.

FRANK E. NORTHROP.

It is hereby certified that Certificate of Corr 11 1936, was incomplete in that it should have i correction: Page 5, second column, line 4 word "said"; and that the said Certificate correction therein that the same we in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of September, A. D. 1956.

ection issued August ncluded the following claim 24, strike out the should be read with this y conform to the record of the case Henry Van ,Arsdale Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

